Camponotus festinatus

Camponotus festinatus
Camponotus festinatus worker
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Genus: Camponotus
Species: C. festinatus
Binomial name
Camponotus festinatus
(Buckley, 1866)
Synonyms

Formica festinata Buckley, 1866

Camponotus festinatus is a species of carpenter ant that is typically found in the Southwestern United States and northern reaches of Mexico. It is most commonly found around Tucson, Arizona. It lives in the semi-dead branches of palo verde trees found in the area. Camponotus festinatus is an exclusively liquid feeder. These ants can only feed on sap from trees or the juices of a deceased animal. Like most ants, their diet is primarily sugar with some protein. Camponotus festinatus ants are not known to be aggressive except towards other ants. Soldiers will prefer to run from humans rather than be aggressive. In principle, these ants can bite with their mandibles. However, as carpenter ants like these are formicines, they have no functional sting. Instead of stinging, they can use an acidopore to spray formic acid.

A Camponotus festinatus queen with workers


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